MarEx Mailbag: Reader Response to Editorials and Online Articles
MarEx readers weigh in on two previous online editorials; one about the GOP's Vice Presidential candidate, Governor Sarah Palin of Alaska and a previous piece about nostalgia and ship scrapping.
In our September 4th e-newsletter, we published an editorial entitled, "Sarah Palin: No Mystery to MarEx Readers." The piece talked about Palin's energy record and highlighted some reporting on Palin, dating back as far as 18 months ago. Read the September 4th editorial by clicking HERE. Also, check out a few of our reader's comments on the article below:
To MarEx:
Will Palin resign as governor to run or only if she wins? If she wins, she's effectively out of the way, if she loses, she's a "failed vice presidential candidate" which may diminish her effectiveness as governor. Interesting.
Rob Bryan
MarEx Editor's Remarks: Good points, all. And, as I pointed out about two weeks ago, the media and other "interested" parties are slowly unraveling the thin veneer of her personal and professional life that probably wouldn't have otherwise gotten much attention. Time will tell what the results of that vetting will provide.
To MarEx:
The fact that her husband is/was a commercial fisherman probably comes into play as well. I'm sure they have a perspective on maritime issues.
Regards,
ROBERT L. SMITH JR.
CDR, USCG
MarEx Editor's Remarks: That point has been brought to my attention several times since this piece was published. No doubt he knows a little about the oil industry, too.
Joe,
You wrote in part regarding the electorate and "things maritime" that ".....this will be unimportant for a national electorate, most of whom last gave any thought to ocean commerce when they watched "Titanic" in the movie theatres."
And all this time I thought the "electorate" knew the US was a maritime nation! Maybe they think our goods come and go by some Area 51 interstellar magic.
Shakespeare may have said it best in Hamlet, "... 'tis true, 'tis true 'tis pity, And pity 'tis 'tis true..."
Regards,
John Rice
MarEx Editor's Remarks: I don't know much about Shakespeare, but I do know the American public still remains for the most part, blissfully ignorant of the importance of ocean commerce and why a sealift capacity isn't a luxury – it's a necessity. I found it interesting a while back to find out that the new maritime high schools and educational/recruiting efforts are trying to move the curriculum of a maritime nature as far down as sixth grade, so as to spark an interest in going to sea or on the waterfront. It's a start. In the past, we as an industry have been poor at getting out the word and telling "the story."
In our August 28th e-newsletter, we waxed nostalgic about the past and crafted that piece around the departure of yet another obsolete vessel from one of MARAD's three defense reserve fleets. The article talks about the 76th Ship Departs James River Reserve Fleet, the ex-USNS Rigel, to be recycled at the All-Star Marine facility in Brownsville, Texas. MarEx Managing Editor Keefe was briefly assigned to the vessel in 1982 – and then another, which was eventually scrapped. Under the loose category of "It's a small world," a couple of readers responded with memories of their own. MarEx readers can read the editorial entitled, "MARAD's Now Rapid Pace of Ship Disposal Evokes Nostalgia at MarEx" by clicking HERE. Read on to see a couple additional letters:
Dear Mr.Keefe:
I was 3rd Mate on the USNS Gen.Vandenberg T-AGM-10 ,steam-turbo 12,848 gross tons, 9000 HP from Dec. 9,1969 to May 18,1970 in Honolulu. Great job. Capt.R.L.Rhoads was the Captain.
Thanks for the great memory...
Best Regards,
David A. Del Gardo
MarEx Editor's Remarks: You are most welcome, David. You and I missed each other by about ten years. Okay, one more:
Hi Joe,
I anxiously await your weekly updates. You might want to forward on to Gene Alley a correction on his Mormacrigel scrapping. The Mormacrigel became the Mallory Lykes for Lykes Lines around 1986, after being laid up as the American Rigel for USL. Then (unknown date) went to MARAD JRRF. She was sent for scrapping in August 2006 at Southern Scrap Material CO, NOLA for $50,000.
His Mormacscan is correct. 08/24/07 she was sold for scrapping at Sparrows Point. The USNS Rigel was a Navy/MSC ship. I probably met Gene at Sun Ship in the 70's, as we did a few drydockings there when I was MML Port Captain. I've compiled 10 pages of MorMac ship statistics, 1939 to present, for the authors of the Moore McCormack Lines web site and are available for anyone else interested.
Regards, Capt. Vanderploeg
MarEx Editor's Remarks: A nice letter from someone who keeps up-to-date and enjoys maritime history. Thanks for weighing in, Captain.